EP0824245A1 - Mobile object carrying electronic data which can read and/or write contactlessly - Google Patents

Abstract

The data carrier has a coil unit Ä1Ü with a cylindrical winding former Ä2Ü of plastic. Two loop antennas Ä5Ü are set into grooves in the inner and outer peripheries. The ends of the loops are joined Ä6Ü by elements that have built in electronic stages, eg resistor and capacitors for tuning. Inductive coupling establishes communication without contact The integrated circuit is connected to the ends of the antenna. The data is read by a reader located so the main reading direction is orthogonal or oblique to the antenna surface.

Description

The invention relates to a movable object according to the preamble of independent claim. The object carries electronically stored Data contactless by a read / write device with a main reading direction can be read out and / or overwritten without contact.

In a wide range of applications such as manufacturing, maintenance, Analytics, warehousing etc. it becomes more and more desirable to be agile To provide objects with automatically readable markings. Such Labels are used, for example, for automatic identification of objects. Automatically readable labels are, for example Markings detectable with optical devices or electronically stored Data.

Optical markings are, for example, bar codes. Reading takes place non-contact, with an area between the marker and the reader specified reading distance and reading angle are to be observed and the Marking must be visible, that is, not from an opaque one Medium may be separated from the reader.

Electronically stored data are, for example, in a corresponding integrated circuit stored, which circuit on the to be marked Object is attached. Such circuits are used to read out the stored data with a reader or the probe of such a device contacted or they have an antenna and the stored data can then contactlessly with a suitably equipped reader be read out. Circuit, antenna and reader can be such be configured such that the data stored in the circuit by the device is not only readable but also writable (read / write device) and also in such a way that those for reading or overwriting in the Circuit used energy also contactless from the device to the Circuit is transferable, so that no special energy source for the circuit (e.g. battery) must be provided.

In contrast to optical markings can be stored electronically In addition to an identification function, data also take on control functions, that is, it can be equipped with such data Devices can be controlled directly.

For a data transmission with contacting, one is precisely determined create the relative position of the read / write device and the object. A non-contact Depending on the design of the circuit, data transmission is based on the antenna and read / write device in more or less freely selectable relative positions of object and read / write device possible. But obviously, that it is in a system with high read / write position freedom is more difficult or no longer possible without further aids Restrict data transfer to a specific object or data transfer functionally link the location of the object (localization of objects and / or taking over control functions by objects, who are in a specific location).

It is now the object of the invention to objects with electronically stored To create data in such a way that the data can be read out and / or without contact can be overwritten, with a high degree of freedom in terms of relative position between a read / write device and the object should be guaranteed and whereby it should be possible to functionally record the locality of the object.

This object is achieved by the object as it is in the claims is defined.

The subject according to the invention has an integrated circuit in which Data can be stored electronically, and an antenna. The antenna is there essentially from a conductor loop (antenna loop) through the integrated circuit is closed and spanned by an antenna surface becomes. The object becomes relative for a write or read operation arranged to a read / write device with a main reading direction, that the main reading direction of the device is the antenna surface vertically or penetrates crookedly (not aligned parallel to it), whereby during the Read / write process object and read / write device can be stationary or move relative to each other.

The antenna loop or the antenna surface is designed and arranged in such a way that in a locality in which a read / write process takes place should, this without changing the main reading direction of the read / write device is feasible for all object positions that are equivalent in this locality if possible. In other words, that means an essentially unchanged Main reading direction penetrates the antenna surface, regardless of which of the equivalent positions the object occupies. Under equivalent Object positions are to be understood as a plurality of positions which the object in the read / write locality from the read / write process reasons not relevant.

The conductor loop can be designed in such a way that it can only be used in certain States of the object is closed, that is, the data of an object can only be overwritten or read in certain states of the object are.

Figur 1

einen Druckproduktewickel mit integrierter Schaltung und Antenne als beispielhafte Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemässen Objekts;

Figur 2

eine Mehrzahl von gelagerten Druckproduktewickeln und Wickelkernen und ein Schreib/Lesegerät;

Figuren 3 und 4

zwei beispielhafte Varianten von Antennen, die mindestens teilweise auf Wickelbändern angeordnet sind;

Figur 5

ein Wickelband mit zwei Antennen und zwei damit verbundenen integrierten Schaltungen;

Figur 6

ein Wickelkern mit integrierter Antenne;

Figuren 7 und 8

zwei bevorzugte Ausführungsformen von Verbindungsstücken zur Verbindung von integrierter Schaltung und Antennenschlaufe;

Figuren 9 bis 12

weitere beispielhafte Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemässen Objekts.

Examples of embodiments of the object according to the invention and advantageous embodiments of antennas therefor are described in detail in connection with the following figures. These show:

Figure 1

a printed product roll with integrated circuit and antenna as an exemplary embodiment of the object according to the invention;

Figure 2

a plurality of stored printed product coils and winding cores and a read / write device;

Figures 3 and 4

two exemplary variants of antennas, which are at least partially arranged on winding tapes;

Figure 5

a winding tape with two antennas and two integrated circuits connected to them;

Figure 6

a winding core with integrated antenna;

Figures 7 and 8

two preferred embodiments of connectors for connecting integrated circuit and antenna loop;

Figures 9 to 12

further exemplary embodiments of the object according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows, as an exemplary embodiment of the object according to the invention, a roll 1 of printed products, as is often used as a storage formation in the further processing of printed products. The winding 1 has a substantially hollow cylindrical winding core 2, usually made of plastic, on which the printed products are wound with the aid of a winding tape 3.

Such coils are essentially rotationally symmetrical with respect to them Axis R. They are positioned, for example, by hanging them in the area of the winding core (axis of rotation essentially horizontal), by laying it down with vertical axis of rotation, by coaxial stacking in one such position or by leaning alone or in groups against one Support with a slightly oblique axis of rotation with respect to the horizontal. In all In these cases, the rotational position is at least relative to the axis of rotation Core or the ends of the wound tape irrelevant, that is, it an infinite number of equivalent rotation positions are possible in all cases. The antenna area for such a coil is to be designed in such a way that it doesn't change position by rotating the wrap or only in such a way that they are of a constant main reading direction of a Read / write device is penetrated in every rotational position.

FIG. 1 shows two exemplary possible configurations of antenna loops 5, the one around the outer circumference of the Wraps extends (e.g. integrated in the winding tape) and the other around extends the outer or inner core circumference or integrated in the core material is.

The antenna loop 5 is an electrical conductor, the ends of which are on both Sides of a gap positioned and with the integrated circuit and if necessary with further electronic functional elements (e.g. capacitor for tuning or energy storage or resistance for damping) are conductively connected. Here are the integrated circuit and the others Elements advantageously directly in the gap between the loop ends, for example arranged on a corresponding connector 6.

The antenna loop consists for example of a wire or cable or from a metal band that is substantially perpendicular to that of the antenna spanned antenna surface is arranged.

FIG. 1 also shows schematically a read / write device 10, the main reading direction of which L vertical or oblique, centric or eccentric to that of the Antenna 5 spanned area is aligned. As long as the antenna area is penetrated by the main reading direction L is a read or write operation possible, the energetic conditions can be set up in such a way that a second winding, for example coaxial with that shown Wrap and deposited in the figure behind this (so that L also his Antenna area penetrates), not affected by the write or read process will (no crosstalk).

Variants of the antenna loops 5 shown in FIG. 1 are antenna loops, which are arranged on core or tape, but which are not flat or a flat but sloping to the winding end faces Spread the antenna area.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary storage of printed product coils 1, all equipped with antenna loops 5 and connecting pieces 6, which are arranged on the outer end of the winding tape. The coils are stacked coaxially on one another in any rotational position in stacks arranged next to one another. Empty winding cores 2 with winding tape wound thereon are also stored in the same way.

FIG. 2 also shows a read / write device 10 with a main reading direction L, which is substantially perpendicular to the antenna surfaces of the coil 1 and Winding cores 2 is aligned. The reader / writer 10 is, as by the Arrows B indicated, horizontally and vertically movable and is particularly in the core cavities of the stack are movable. It can also be attached directly to a gripper be attached for gripping coils or winding cores.

Because the antenna surfaces of the stacked and wound cores not only parallel to each other but also with regard to the main reading direction aligned with each other is a crosstalk from winding cores different stacks are not possible, even if, for example, that they are empty cores, are very close to each other. The antenna surfaces the winding or winding cores of a single stack are through their Distance clearly separated from each other, so that even within a stack Crosstalk is simply preventable.

In other words, this means that each of the stacked windings 1 and winding cores 2, which are shown in Figure 2, are due to the moving Read / write device 10 can be clearly localized, when the device is retracted no precision is required in the core cavities.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show exemplary antenna arrangements for winding cores or windings. These are all applicable in the field of further processing of printed products, but are not limited to this application. They can be used in an analogous manner for winding any goods which are wound onto winding cores with or without a winding tape.

The antenna arrangement according to FIG. 3 consists of a connecting piece 6 arranged on the winding core 2 with two loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 and an electrically conductive loop 5, which is applied, for example, as a metallic coating on the electrically insulating plastic material of the tape in the area of the tape end. The coated tape end is now attached to the core 2 such that the loop 5 is in contact with one (5.1) of the loop connection areas of the connecting piece 6. The length of the loop 5 is at least as long as a core circumference, so that when the winding tape is wound around the core, it contacts the second loop connection area 5.2 of the connecting piece, as a result of which the antenna loop 5 is closed by the connecting piece 6.

Obviously there are data in one between the two loop connection areas 5.1 and 52 arranged and connected to them, integrated Circuit (not shown) are stored, only readable when on the core is a winding tape with an appropriately designed antenna loop 5 is wound. In other words, there is a winding core condition, in reading or overwriting the data depending on the state Is blocked.

The embodiment of the antenna arrangement according to FIG. 3 is particular advantageous for retrofitting winding cores 2 that are already in operation. Since it is already common, automatic winding tapes in their end area Detection of this area with a conductive component (e.g. metallic Layer), wrapping tapes with antenna loops can be made using the same technique getting produced. Then you only need an additional connector 6 with two loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 on the core assembled, that is, for example, glued on. Examples of such Connectors 6 are intended in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8 be described in more detail.

FIG. 4 shows an antenna arrangement arranged entirely on the winding tape 3, again consisting for example of a winding loop 5 and a connecting piece 6. The loop 5 is again designed, for example, as a conductive coating of the tape, the conductive area being at least as long as the circumference of a winding core 2. The conductive area leads around the end of the tape from its inner side facing the winding core to the other side of the tape and forms a contact area 5.3 with which the coating of a tape area wound over it can be contacted. Somewhere along its length, the loop 5 is interrupted by the connecting piece 6 or correspondingly by a gap, the loop ends being connected in some way to the integrated circuit on both sides of the gap.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is also on the winding outer band end applicable. The loop 5 is then on the outside Band surface, the contact area 5.3 on the inner band surface to arrange and the loop must be at least the length of the circumference of a have a full wrap. It is obvious that such an antenna arrangement, as soon as the tape end, for example when winding or unwinding from Winding is released, no longer works, i.e. overwriting and / or Reading data is locked.

Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of a winding tape 3, which is equipped at both ends with an antenna arrangement consisting of antenna loop 5 and connector 6. If the lengths of the two loops correspond essentially to the circumference of the winding core to be used with the winding tape, the tape can be used for winding in both directions (regardless of which tape end is arranged on the winding core) and there will always be one closed around the winding core Form antenna loop. If the lengths of both loops correspond essentially to the circumference of a full reel, the tape can also be used in both directions and there will always be both a closed antenna around the winding core and a closed antenna around the winding circumference, overwriting or reading the Data of the outer arrangement is locked during the winding process (loop not closed).

An antenna loop on a winding tape is advantageously parallel arranged to the longitudinal edges of the tape. But this is not a requirement that means the antenna loop can also be crooked or alternating on the Band be arranged.

The antenna arrangements according to Figures 4 and 5 are on the winding tape limited, that is, the winding core serves for the function of data transmission only as a formative element. There are also other shaping ones Elements conceivable for that equipped with the antenna arrangement Band advantageously also another function, for example a looping function. Appropriate applications are, for example, bundles held together by a corresponding band of roll-shaped packages or other objects, any container with lids, packed pallets or the like. In all of these cases the tape advantageously has a dual function (cohesion and data transmission), can also only be used for data transmission will.

FIG. 6 shows a section through a winding core 2 with a loop 5 and connecting piece 6 integrated therein. As shown, the antenna loop 5 may or may not run parallel to the end faces of the winding core.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show preferred embodiments of connecting pieces 6. Such a connecting piece 6 is designed as a printed circuit on a rigid or flexible carrier, which printed circuit with the integrated circuit and optionally with further electronic functional units (for example capacitor for tuning or energy storage or resistance for Damping).

The connector according to FIG. 7 has a printed one on a carrier 20 Circuit with two loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 and in between arranged, further conductors 21. These are for example equipped with a capacitor 22 and the integrated circuit 23, that capacitor and integrated circuit in parallel with each other Loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 are connected. Advantageously the area between the loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 with covered with a protective lacquer 24.

The connector 6 according to Figure 8 differs from the connector according to FIG. 7 due to the lack of further conductors 21, which means that Connector becomes very easy. The printed circuit only shows two loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2, which by such are a small distance apart that both the capacitor 22 as well as the integrated circuit 23 directly with the loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 glued with a conductive adhesive or accordingly can be soldered.

Typical mass for the connector 6 for an application according to figures 1 to 6 are, for example: Thickness of the conductor areas (5.1, 5.2, 21): 20 to 35 µm, width of the loop connection areas (5.1 and 5.2): 20 to 40 mm, Thickness of the rigid or flexible support (20): 20 to 50 µm.

For the assembly of conductor loop 5 and connector 6, for example on a winding tape (application according to Figures 4 or 5) or on one other object, connecting pieces 6 are advantageously used, on their loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 electrically conductive, on both sides adhesive film pieces are glued, the outside with a peelable Protective film is covered. The ladder loop is in the form of a Wire or metal tape or in the form of a conductive coating applied to the object. Then the protective films from the loop connection areas the connector is removed and this is so glued over the gap between the loop ends that the two loop ends are contacted with the loop connection areas.

Of course, it is also conceivable that in the same way as in the figures 7 and 8 shown for a connector, the whole antenna made is by using at least the loop connection areas 5.1 and 5.2 one is significantly longer, such that the two loop connection areas represent the entire length of the loop. For an assembly such a lengthened connector is glued around an object and the end regions are conductively connected to one another with suitable means.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show, as further examples of objects for systems according to the invention, containers 30 and 30 'with lids 31 and 31' (FIGS. 9 and 10), as are applicable, for example, for storage or shipping, an open container 35 (FIG. 11), as it can be used for order picking, for example, and a pallet 40 (FIG. 12) that is standardized, for example, as can be used in very many applications, in particular for transport and intermediate storage.

The container according to FIG. 9 has, for example, a loop 5, which runs on the outside of the container 30 on a container wall, on the container bottom and the opposite container wall and continues on the inside of the lid 31. The loop is closed only when the cover 31 is in place and the stored data can be read or overwritten.

The container 30 has, for example, a rectangular bottom. Is the antenna area arranged in the middle, the cover 31 can be in both possible positions be put on and in both cases by putting on the Cover the antenna loop 5 closed. For a read / write process can the container 30/31 relative to a reader / writer with a substantially Main reading direction aligned parallel to the bottom of the container take positions standing on the floor, except in such a way that Main reading direction and antenna area are parallel to each other. Especially the container can be rotated by 180 °, depending on the location of the antenna surface not changed.

FIG. 10 shows a container 30 'with a lid 31', which are very similar to the container with a lid (30/31) shown in FIG. 9. The difference is that in the container according to FIG. 10, the antenna surface runs perpendicular to and diagonally to the base surface. So that the lid 31 'can be placed on the open container in both possible positions without this having any influence on the antenna, the loop part of the lid 31' can be designed twice, it running along both diagonals. It is also conceivable that instead of the loop part of the lid, that of the container is made twice (on both diagonals).

If a group of containers, such as one shown in FIG lined up on a substantially horizontal surface and inspected by a reader / writer (for example, by passing by a stationary such device), the main reading direction essentially is directed horizontally and transversely against the row of containers Containers captured regardless of the position of their walls and independently of different container sizes when their lids are in place. Only Containers aligned with the bottom diagonal parallel to the main reading direction cannot be detected (antenna area parallel to the main reading direction). Such a position, however, can be countered by a gentle push a wall running parallel to the row of containers can be easily prevented.

FIG. 11 shows, as a further exemplary embodiment of the object according to the invention, an open container 35 with, for example, a square bottom. The antenna arrangement (loop 5 and connector 6) runs essentially parallel to the container bottom on the outside (or inside) of the container walls. The antenna surface spanned by the loop 5 allows the container standing on its base to be in any desired rotational position without the writing / reading characteristic being changed while the main reading direction remains the same (for example vertically).

FIG. 12 shows, as a further example of an object for a system according to the invention, a pallet 40 with an antenna loop 5, which extends essentially parallel to the loading area of the pallet around its side surfaces.

Claims (19)

Movable object (1, 2, 2/3, 30/31, 30 '/ 31', 35, 40) which carries data stored in an integrated circuit (23) and an antenna, the data being read and / or Writing device (10) with a main reading direction (L) can be read or overwritten without contact, characterized in that the object has an antenna loop (5) with a gap, the ends of the loop (5) being connected to the integrated circuit (23) and an antenna surface is spanned by the loop (5) and that the object can be positioned relative to the reading and / or writing device (10) in such a way that the main reading direction (L) penetrates the antenna surface perpendicularly or obliquely. Object according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna loop (5) is at least partially arranged on a movable or removable object part (3, 31, 31 ') and that it can be interrupted by moving the movable object part or by removing the removable object part. Object according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable or removable object part is a band (3) which is windable around a shaping element, and that at least part of the loop (5) is arranged on the band (3). Object according to claim 3, characterized in that the shaping element is an essentially hollow cylindrical winding core (2) and that the loop (5) is arranged on a winding tape (3) to be used with the winding core (2). Object according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that two loop connection regions (5.1 and 5.2), which are spaced apart from one another by a gap and are connected to the integrated circuit, are arranged on the shaping element and make contact with the loop (5) on the belt (3) when the winding tape is wound on the core. Object according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the loop (5) on the band (3) has a gap and the loop ends on both sides of the gap are connected to the integrated circuit which is also arranged on the band and that two loop regions which are wound one above the other are in contact with each other when the tape is wound around the shaping element: Object according to claim 6, characterized in that the loop (5) for the contacting of loop areas wound one above the other is guided at one band end from one band surface to the other band surface. Object according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the band (3) has loops (5) and integrated circuits connected to both ends of the band. Object according to claim 1, characterized in that it is an essentially hollow cylindrical winding core (2) and that the loop (5) is integrated in the core material or runs in a corresponding groove around the outer or inner core circumference. Object according to claim 2, characterized in that it is a container (30, 30 ') with a lid (31, 31') and that part of the loop (5) on the lid (31, 31 ') and another part of the loop (5) are arranged on the container (30, 30 ') in such a way that the two loop parts are in contact with one another when the container is closed with the lid. Object according to claim 10, characterized in that the container with lid (30/31, 30 '/ 31') has a rectangular or square base and that the loop (5) is arranged such that the antenna surface is perpendicular to the container base and is aligned parallel to two edges of the floor or to a diagonal of the floor. Object according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (31 ') can be removed from the container (30'), that the antenna surface is aligned with a diagonal of the container base and that the container (30 ') or the cover (31') is two Has loop parts that run on a diagonal each over the bottom of the container or over the lid. Object according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a container (35) with container bottom and container walls and that the loop (5) is placed essentially parallel to the container bottom inside or outside around the container walls. Object according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a pallet (40) and in that the loop (5) is placed around its narrow sides essentially parallel to the support surface. Object according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the integrated circuit (23) is arranged in the gap in the antenna loop (5). Object according to claim 15, characterized in that the integrated circuit (23) is arranged on a connecting piece (6), which connecting piece (6) furthermore has two loop connection regions (5.1 and 5.2) spaced apart from one another. Object according to claim 16, characterized in that the connecting piece (6) is a printed circuit arranged on a flexible or rigid support (20), which is equipped at least with the integrated circuit (23). Object according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the loop connection areas (5.1 and 5.2) are designed sufficiently long to form the whole loop (5) in a conductively connected manner. Object according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the loop (5) consists of a metal strip which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the antenna surface.

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